U.S. patent number 8,136,533 [Application Number 11/860,031] was granted by the patent office on 2012-03-20 for reconstituted tobacco sheet and smoking article therefrom.
This patent grant is currently assigned to R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. Invention is credited to Luis Monsalud, Jr., John-Paul Mua.
United States Patent |
8,136,533 |
Mua , et al. |
March 20, 2012 |
Reconstituted tobacco sheet and smoking article therefrom
Abstract
A smoking article having one or more reconstituted tobacco split
inner wrap strips is described. One or more split inner wrap strips
extend coaxially along the tobacco column between the inner surface
of an outer wrap of cigarette paper and the tobacco column. The
tobacco blend includes burley and a second tobacco, such as
flue-cured, oriental, Maryland, or rare and exotic tobaccos, and
combinations thereof. This blend improves burley smoke character
without increasing Hoffman analyte levels, especially
tobacco-specific nitrosamines (i.e., TNSAs). A cigarette with an
improved burley smoke character without increasing Hoffman analyte
levels is also described.
Inventors: |
Mua; John-Paul (Advance,
NC), Monsalud, Jr.; Luis (Kernersville, NC) |
Assignee: |
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
(Winston-Salem, NC)
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Family
ID: |
35968052 |
Appl.
No.: |
11/860,031 |
Filed: |
September 24, 2007 |
Prior Publication Data
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Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
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US 20080006286 A1 |
Jan 10, 2008 |
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Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
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10920466 |
Aug 18, 2004 |
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10811270 |
Mar 26, 2004 |
7308898 |
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10299231 |
Dec 7, 2004 |
6827087 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
131/358;
131/365 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A24C
5/20 (20130101); A24D 1/025 (20130101); A24B
15/14 (20130101); A24B 3/14 (20130101); Y02A
90/40 (20180101) |
Current International
Class: |
A24B
3/14 (20060101); A24D 1/00 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;131/365 ;162/139 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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483998 |
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May 1992 |
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565360 |
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EP |
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1050223 |
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973681 |
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Nov 1962 |
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GB |
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1306054 |
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Feb 1973 |
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3264109 |
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JP |
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0108514 |
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Aug 2001 |
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WO |
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0237991 |
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May 2002 |
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WO |
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0244700 |
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WO |
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02055294 |
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WO |
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03043450 |
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May 2003 |
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WO |
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2004045320 |
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WO |
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May 2005 |
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WO |
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2005096850 |
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Oct 2005 |
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WO |
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Primary Examiner: Lazorcik; Jason L.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Reutlinger; Middleton Sherman;
Charles I.
Parent Case Text
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This divisional application claims priority to and benefit from
currently pending U.S. application Ser. No. 10/920,466, filed Aug.
18, 2004, which is a continuation-in-part application that claims
priority to and benefit from currently pending U.S. application
Ser. No. 10/811,270, filed Mar. 26, 2004, which is a
continuation-in-part application that claims priority to and
benefit from U.S. application Ser. No. 10/299,231, filed Nov. 19,
2002, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,827,087, issued on Dec. 7, 2004, which
are incorporated herein by reference.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A menthol cigarette which maintains its menthol flavor for an
extended period of time comprising: a tobacco column surrounded by
an outer wrap paper; and, a partial inner wrap material extending
longitudinally of said tobacco column and disposed between said
outer wrap and said tobacco column, said partial inner wrap
material being one or more strips of a bandcast tobacco sheet which
consists essentially of from about 5% to about 40% by weight of
wood pulp, from about 8% to about 40% by weight of binder, and from
about 30% to about 80% by weight of tobacco blend and about 20% to
about 30% by weight of melted menthol thoroughly dispersed therein,
wherein said tobacco blend also consists essentially of burley and
a second tobacco, said burley being at least about 30% by weight of
said partial inner wrap material, and said second tobacco being up
to about 30% by weight of said partial inner wrap material.
2. The cigarette of claim 1, wherein said second tobacco is
selected from the group consisting of flue-cured tobacco, oriental
tobacco, Maryland tobacco, exotic tobacco, and combinations
thereof.
3. The cigarette of claim 2, wherein said exotic tobacco is
selected from the group consisting of Izmar tobacco, Samsun
tobacco, Yaka tobacco, Latakia tobacco, Perique tobacco, Cavendish
tobacco, Rustica tobacco, Fire-cure tobacco, Dark or Sun-cure
tobacco, and combinations thereof.
4. The cigarette of claim 1, including up to about 30% by weight of
a humectant in said inner wrap.
5. The cigarette of claim 4, said humectant selected from the group
consisting of glycerin and propylene glycol.
6. The cigarette of claim 5, said glycerin being approximately
13.5% by weight of said inner wrap.
7. The cigarette of claim 1, said binder selected from the group
consisting of alginate, guar, xanthum, acacia, pectin, other gums,
modified cellulose compounds, and hydrocolloid compounds.
8. The cigarette of claim 7, said alginate being sodium
alginate.
9. The cigarette of claim 8, said sodium alginate being about 27%
by weight of said inner wrap.
10. The cigarette of claim 1, said tobacco blend and said binder
respectively being in a ratio of from about 4.0 to 1.0 to about 1.0
to 1.0.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a process for making a
reconstituted tobacco sheet and more particularly to a process for
making a bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet having burley,
flue-cured, oriental, Maryland, rare and exotic tobaccos, and
combinations thereof, contained in a gel matrix within the
reconstituted tobacco sheet. Even more particularly, the tobacco
sheets having burley, as well as flue-cured, oriental, Maryland,
rare and exotic tobaccos, and combinations thereof, are slit into
split inner wrap strips which are positioned within the tobacco
rod's wrapper. Exotic tobaccos include, but are not limited to,
Izmar, Sumsun, Yaka, Latakia, Perique, Cavendish, Rustica,
Fire-cure, and Dark or Sun-cure.
In the manufacturing of smoking articles and particularly
cigarettes, it is common to use in the tobacco strip blend a
percentage of strips of reconstituted tobacco. The reconstituted
tobacco is generally prepared from tobacco fines, veins, stems and
other waste tobacco products which are further processed and formed
into sheets, cut into strips and blended in with fresh cut tobacco.
The amount of reconstituted tobacco used in a tobacco blend for a
smoking article varies, but is generally less than 20%. Usually
these reconstituted tobacco sheets are absent of additional
flavoring compounds as it has been found that the flavoring
compounds, such as menthol, evaporate or dissipate rapidly from the
sheet prior to blending with other tobacco and therefore provide
little to no additional flavoring benefit to the tobacco blend.
Additionally, there has been great concern for the reduction of the
ignition propensity of smoking articles as there have been a
substantial number of fires which have been attributed to burning
cigarettes coming into contact with combustible or flammable
materials. Therefore, there is a considerable effort being expended
in the industry to provide smoking articles which provide a low
ignition propensity smoking article. Many of these proposals
include a modification of the wrapper for the smoking article.
Particularly, coatings or additives have been made to wrappers for
the smoking articles to reduce the porosity or to change the
chemical properties of the wrapper.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of known deficiencies associated with earlier smoking
articles, a smoking article having reconstituted tobacco comprised
of burley tobacco, as well as a second tobacco, such as flue-cured,
oriental, Maryland, rare and exotic tobaccos, and combinations
thereof, in the form of split inner wrap strips, is provided. The
rare and exotic tobaccos may include, but are not limited to,
Izmar, Sumsun, Yaka, Latakia, Cavendish, Rustica, Fire-cure, and
Dark or Sun-cure. The split inner wrap strips constitute less than
9% of the total tobacco strip blend, but deliver a better smoke
flavor, lower the ignition propensity, and increase puff
number.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel
formulation for a bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet and the
process for making same.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a reconstituted
sheet made of rare and exotic tobaccos, of limited supply, to
provide unique smoke flavors.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a smoking
article, including a novel bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet in
one layer of a wrapper for the smoking article.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a smoking
article including a burley skewed reconstituted tobacco sheet that
provides a better tobacco smoke characteristic but minimizes TSNA
formation.
The present invention provides a bandcast tobacco sheet which may
include from about 30 to about 80% by weight of tobacco blend, from
about 5 to about 40% weight of wood pulp, from about 8 to about 40%
by weight of binder, and up to about 30% by weight of a flavoring
compound, such as menthol. The tobacco blend is comprised of at
least about 30% burley by weight and up to about 30% by weight of a
second tobacco. The binder may be alginate (e.g., sodium alginate),
guar, xanthum, acacia, pectin, other gums, modified cellulose
compounds, and hydrocolloid compounds. The bandcast tobacco sheet
can also include from about 8 to about 30% by weight of humectants,
such as glycerin or propylene glycol.
The present invention also provides a process for making a bandcast
tobacco sheet which includes as a first step of making a slurry
including tobacco, wood pulp, binder and menthol. The prepared
slurry is cast onto a movable band or screen and subsequently dried
to form a sheet of reconstituted tobacco. The resulting tobacco
sheet is cut into lengths of preselected widths for use in a
smoking article. In one embodiment, the strips are positioned
longitudinally of the tobacco rod between the tobacco rod and an
outer cigarette or smoking article wrapper.
In preparing the bandcast material, the wood pulp and binder,
particularly an alginate, such as sodium alginate, are added for
sheet strength and binding of the ingredients into the tobacco
sheet. A humectant, such as glycerin, may also be added for sheet
pliability in addition to any desired flavorants, such as, menthol,
as well as other fillers, such as calcium carbonate. The proportion
of the materials varies and is dependent upon end uses. However, in
a preferred sheet, the amount of tobacco in the mixture is usually
approximately the same as the binder, such as sodium alginate, but
the tobacco may exceed the alginate by 10 to 20% by weight.
The present invention also provides for bandcast tobacco sheets
having not only burley, but a second tobacco, such as flue-cured,
oriental, Maryland, or rare and exotic tobaccos, and combinations
thereof, and a method for preparing same. The rare and exotics
include, but are not limited to, Izmar, Samsun, Yaka, Latakia,
Perique, Cavendish, Rustica, Fire-cure, and Dark or Sun-cure.
Since burley tobacco, for example, is high in tobacco specific
nitrosamines (TSNAs), burley inclusion levels for potentially
reduced exposure products, are limited to less than the normal 25%
to 40% inclusion levels, for US blended cigarettes. The use of less
burley outside the norm results in poor balance tobacco smoke
character. Smoke TSNAs formation or transfer is minimized via split
inner wrap technology. Such technology involves the use of one or
more strips of burley or burley skewed reconstituted tobacco sheets
aligned longitudinally and adjacent each other on the periphery of
a cigarette's tobacco column, just inside the cigarette outer wrap
paper.
Using burley bandcast reconstituted tobacco split inner wrap strips
provides unique properties to cigarettes, such as lowering ignition
propensity, improving smoke flavor, and increasing cigarette puff
count while minimizing TSNA levels. With respect to sensory
improvement, since combustion takes place preferentially towards
the periphery or surface of the cigarette rod, most of the smoke
products formed should be transferred to the mainstream smoke.
Since cigarette burn temperature are generally lower on the outside
of the rod and hotter within the core, the outer positioning of the
split inner strip enables it to produce lesser chemical compounds
than tobacco within the core, therefore, the split inner wrap
contributes less to mainstream smoke Hoffman analyte (HA)
deliveries. Hence, the use of burley tobacco to make reconstituted
tobacco split inner wrap strips to insert into cigarette rods
improves burley's smoke character, optimizes taste impact, and
minimizes mainstream Hoffman analyte deliveries.
The present invention further provides for a smoking article
including burley reconstituted tobacco split inner wrap strips. The
split inner wrap could be made via bandcast, paper, or extrusion
reconstituted tobacco technology. Note also, that the present
invention provides for split inner wrap strips made not only with
burley, but also with flue-cure, oriental, Maryland, or
combinations thereof, with the optional addition of casings and
flavorings. Also, certain exotic and rare flavorful tobaccos, not
in enough supply to be in commercial use (e.g., Izmar, Samsun,
Yaka, Latakia, Perique, Cavendish, Rustica, Fire-cure, and Dark or
Sun-cure), can be used.
Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
the following detailed description including examples of the
preparation of the bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet of the
present invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a partial cigarette of the present
invention using the reconstituted tobacco bandcast sheet of the
present invention;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an unrolled cigarette wrapper
including strips of the bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet of the
present invention;
FIG. 3 is an end view of the cigarette of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cigarette wrapper of the
present invention including strips of the bandcast reconstituted
tobacco sheet;
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a partial inner wrap with
non-linear sides;
FIG. 6 is a front view of an alternative embodiment for the
cigarette with burn rate modification of the present invention;
FIG. 7 is a partial cut away view for an alternative embodiment of
the cigarette with burn rate modification of the present
invention;
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the cigarette paper feeder on a
cigarette making machine for use with the present invention;
FIG. 9 is an end sectional view of the garniture area of a
cigarette making machine for use with the present invention;
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the
cigarette wapper formation point of a cigarette making machine for
use with the present invention; and,
FIG. 11 is a side view of an alternative embodiment for formation
of the cigarette wrapper for use with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
A cigarette with burn rate modification is shown in FIG. 1 and may
be described as a partial double wrap cigarette 10. The tobacco can
be burley, flue-cured, oriental, Maryland, rare and exotic
tobaccos, and combinations thereof As seen therein, the partial
double wrap cigarette 10 of the present invention incorporates a
standard column of tobacco 13 which extends from an exposed end to
the filter 15. Circumscribing the tobacco column 13 is the outer
wrap of the cigarette paper 12. Interior of the outer wrap
cigarette paper 12 is a separate partial inner wrap layer or strip
14a and 14b. The separate partial inner wrap layer 14a and 14b acts
as a burn rate modifier for the tobacco column 13 by altering the
burn characteristics of the cigarette 10. As can be seen from the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the inner wrap layer strips may be
co-axial to the tobacco column 13 and may extend substantially the
length of the tobacco column from the exposed end to the filter 15.
By insertion of the separate partial inner wrap layer 14a and 14b
which in this embodiment extends co-axial to the tobacco column 13,
modification may be made to the burn rate of the cigarette in such
a manner that the burn rate may be adjusted depending upon the
packing density of the tobacco, porosity of the outer wrap paper 12
and additives to the outer wrap, width of the separate partial
inner wrap layer 14a and 14b, porosity of the inner wrap layers 14a
and 14b, and additives to the inner wrap strips. Alternatively, the
inner wrap layer may be shortened to not extend the full length of
the tobacco column 13 or may extend in varying directions. Thus,
many alterations to the burn rate of the partial double wrap
cigarette 10 of the present invention may be established based upon
the combination of factors noted herein, among others.
As depicted in FIG. 1, the partial double wrap cigarette 10 of the
present invention which has a modified burn rate characteristic
incorporates an outer wrap paper 12 with a first and a second
separate partial inner wrap strip 14a and 14b. The outer wrap
cigarette paper 12 may be a normal porosity paper which typically
exhibits a porosity of 15-80 CORESTA units. In combination with the
outer wrap cigarette paper 12 is positioned at least one partial
inner wrap layer which can modify the burn rate characteristics of
the cigarette 10. As shown, a first and a second partial inner wrap
layer 14a and 14b are provided on opposite sides of the tobacco
column 13. In order to provide substantially equivalent burn rate
characteristics along the entirety of the tobacco column 13, the
partial inner wrap strips 14a and 14b may substantially extend and
be co-axial with the tobacco column 13 to the filter 15.
As depicted in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the partial inner wrap
layers 14a and 14b extend from end to end of the tobacco column 13
and may be positioned such that they are either equal distant from
each other or may be placed in alternative positions based upon the
desired burn rate characteristics.
Turning to FIG. 3, it is apparent that the partial double wrap
cigarette 10 of the present invention has alternating high
diffusion areas 21 and low diffusion areas 22 based upon the
placement of the inner wrap layers or strips 14a and 14b. As can be
seen, the high diffusion areas 21 of which there is at least one,
allow for increased permeation of CO and oxygen gases through the
barrier formed by the outer wrap 12 while maintaining normal
deliveries. In combination, low diffusion areas 22 which are
defined by the circumferential extent of each of the partial inner
wrap layers 14a and 14b may potentially block a significant portion
or all of the inflow and outflow of gases therethrough related
directly to the porosity of the inner wrap layer 14a and 14b in
combination with the outer wrap layer 12. The co-linear zones of
high diffusion area 21 and low diffusion area 22 may exhibit a
porosity of greater than 14 CORESTA for the co-linear high
diffusion areas and less than 8 CORESTA for the co-linear low
diffusion areas.
As shown in the drawings, the construction of the cigarette with
burn rate modification is a partial double wrap cigarette 10
depicted herein and utilizes a standard outer wrap cigarette paper
12 which, in a typical cigarette, is 27 mm wide. Placed along the
interior of the outer wrap, as shown in FIG. 2 and in FIG. 4 in an
alternative embodiment, is located the separate partial inner wrap
layer 14a and 14b which may substantially extend along the length
of the outer wrap 12. While the outer wrap of the cigarette paper
may be standard porosity and construction, the partial inner wrap
of this embodiment has a first and a second strip 14a and 14b each
of which may be 4 mm in width and which may have a porosity of less
than 8 CORESTA units. Therefore, combined, the two inner wrap
layers or strips 14a and 14b may circumscribe about 8 mm of the
circumference of the partial double wrap cigarette 10 of the
present invention but may extend around a circumference of up to 15
mm of the tobacco column in relation to a standard cigarette
dimension. Any combination of the partial inner wrap and outer wrap
may work depending on the variables noted, such as porosity of each
paper, but it is felt that good burn rate characteristics as well
as limited effects to smoke characteristics and flavor may be
achieved by incorporating an inner wrap which covers less than
about 75% or preferably less than about 60% and even more
preferably less than about 35% of the circumference of the outer
wrap. This is a function of the overall cigarette and may vary
depending on the circumference of the outer wrap. However,
variations are available to achieve the same favorable results
utilizing the inventive aspects of the present design and such
descriptions are not felt to be limiting and are exemplary only.
Furthermore, even though two strips are shown, it is realized that
a plurality of strips may be used when appropriate.
Alternatively, many different constructions may be utilized to
provide the cigarette with burn rate modification as set forth
herein. As may be understood, a single inner wrap layer or a
plurality of inner wrap layers may be provided based upon the
desired characteristics and burn rate modification. Thus, as
previously mentioned, combinations of low porosity inner wrap
segments and higher porosity outer wrap segments may be utilized to
provide various linear burn rates which may be desirable. Thus, a
typical linear burn rate of 6.0 mm per minute may be reduced as
desired based upon a combination of porosity of outer wrap and
partial inner wrap strips among other factors and may readily be
reduced to below 4 mm/minute if needed. This includes formulation
of single inner wrap strips of lower porosity or replacement of the
inner wrap strips with various construction material including
reconstituted tobacco, low porosity paper, bandcast tobacco, a
polymer based material, other paper or material. The inner wrap
strips may be coated with burn modifiers or other materials which
would create at least one low diffusion area along the tobacco
column. The paper may be coated with, as an example, sodium
alginate as a burn inhibitor in order to decrease the porosity of
the paper and provide adequate characteristics such that the entire
combination of outer wrap porosity, tobacco packing density, inner
wrap circumference covered and number of strips, inner wrap
porosity and other factors cause the cigarette to exhibit a desired
burn rate.
As shown in FIGS. 4-7, various embodiments may be utilized in order
to create the low porosity zone. As depicted in FIG. 4, the opened
standard outer wrap 12 is lined with a plurality of inner wrap or
inner layer strips 16a, 16b, 16c and 16d. These strips may be
placed equidistantly apart along the interior of the outer wrap 12
and positioned away from the edges or seam where the outer wrap is
adhered to itself during rolling within the garniture of the
cigarette maker. As depicted, the strips 16a-16d may all be fed
into the garniture and incorporated on the interior of the outer
wrap adjacent the tobacco column. Placement of the partial inner
wrap strips modifies the burn rate to a desired level such that the
rate may be decreased sufficiently to cause either a significantly
reduced static burn rate or self-extinguishment at a desired
interval.
As shown in FIG. 5, an inner layer with non-linear sides 17 as
compared to the edges of the outer wrap 12 may be utilized as the
partial inner wrap in order to create the low porosity zone. As
shown therein, the inner wrap layer 17 may have be in wave form so
that the placement of the low porosity zone changes in position
along the tobacco column axis. Such non-linear placement of the low
porosity zone may allow for different positioning of the cigarette
during static burn and insure that the desired static burn rate
takes effect regardless of the position of the cigarette.
Depicted in FIG. 6 is another embodiment of the cigarette with burn
rate modification of the present invention. As seen therein, a high
diffusion area 21 and low diffusion area 22 is defined by addition
of a partial double wrap inner wrap layer 18 which circumscribes a
portion of the tobacco column 13 on the interior of outer wrap 12.
The partial inner wrap layer 18, as depicted in the figure, extends
approximately half way around the perimeter of the tobacco column
13. However, many different configurations may be utilized in order
to achieve the appropriate linear burn rate through the burn rate
modification set forth. The partial double wrap inner wrap layer 18
may be comprised of standard cigarette paper which has a low
porosity of less than 7 CORESTA units or cigarette paper coated
with burn rate modifiers, or may be alternative construction such
as a bandcast tobacco sheet with or without additives and which
typically has a low CORESTA unit value, typically less than 5 and
more preferably less than 3. A secondary benefit of utilizing
bandcast or reconstituted tobacco sheets as the partial double wrap
inner wrap layer 18 is that the coloring of the inner wrap may be
such that it is similar to the tobacco column 13 and does not
provide a contrastly whitened area which extends along the low
diffusion area 22. Additionally, a polymer film or other material
may be used as the partial double wrap inner wrap layer 18. It may
be preferable for the partial double wrap inner layer displayed in
FIG. 6 to be 2-14 mm in width or alternatively, less than 75% of
the circumference of the outer wrap in order to obtain the
appropriate burn rate modification desired wherein the linear burn
rate is sustained at a low enough level, preferably below 4.0 mm
per minute.
As depicted in FIG. 7, an alternative embodiment is disclosed
wherein a plurality of inner wrap strips 19 are utilized
substantially surrounding the tobacco column 13 on the interior of
the outer wrap 12. The plurality of inner wrap strips 19 may be fed
into the garniture adjacent the outer wrap 12 and encircling the
tobacco column 13 as it is formed within the cigarette maker. The
plurality of strips 19 may be comprised of a low porosity cigarette
paper individually fed into the cigarette maker or by a single or
multiple strips fed into the cigarette maker adjacent to the
garniture and cut to the appropriate strip widths. As depicted in
FIG. 7, a plurality of inner wrap strips 19 are utilized and extend
co-axially substantially along the length of the tobacco column 13.
Preferably, the plurality of strips 19 extend along the entire
tobacco column length such as to modify the burn rate along the
entire tobacco column regardless of cigarette positioning. It is
felt that by providing a plurality of strips 19 as depicted in FIG.
7, a more even modification of the burn rate of the cigarette may
be produced.
As may be appreciated, extending the inner wrap layer substantially
along the length of the tobacco column 13 such that they are
co-axial provides a significant benefit over alternating rings
which are perpendicular to the axis of the tobacco column 13. Such
perpendicular rings which alternate along the length of the tobacco
column may provide a non-linear burn rate of the tobacco column 13.
Thus, in such a design where there are circumscribing rings around
the tobacco column, the linear burn rate becomes variable between a
low linear burn rate to a high linear burn rate depending upon the
porosity of the paper at the point of the rings as opposed to the
porosity of the non-adjusted paper between the rings. Such
non-linear burn rate may in fact be undesirable in that continued
free burning of the tobacco column between the rings for
significant periods of time does not produce an appropriate burn
rate modification which can be depended upon through the entire
tobacco column length. Further, at points where the low porosity
rings are present, a smoker may puff on the cigarette as the
burning of the tobacco column passes over a low porosity ring. At
such a point, it is thought that the deliveries of the cigarette
may be altered significantly to increase the CO and other compounds
provided as the cigarette burns over one of these rings. Thus, the
partial double wrap inner layer of the present invention overcomes
these problems by providing known standard deliveries over the
entire length of the tobacco column while also modifying the burn
rate along the entire co-axial length.
In the design of the cigarette with the burn rate modification 10
of the present invention, it may be desirable to incorporate the
inner wrap layers, whether a plurality of strips or a single layer,
away from the seam of the outer wrap 12. As is known in cigarette
manufacturing, the seam 23, depicted in FIG. 1, is formed by the
maker by over-wrapping the side edges 24 of the outer wrap 12. In
typical cigarette manufacturing, an adhesive is applied along one
of the edges 24 prior to folding of the outer wrap and formation of
the tobacco column 13. During manufacturing of the cigarette with
burn rate modification 10 of the present invention, it is desirable
to maintain the partial inner wrap layer away from the seam portion
to assure that the outer wrap 12 is properly formed and the partial
inner wrap layer does not intercede in the formation of the tobacco
column or adhesive of the outer wrap layer. Thus, as depicted in
the embodiments, the partial inner wrap layers are shown to be
placed away from the side edges 24 so that the inner wrap portions
will not interfere with the seam of the outer wrap 12 nor interfere
with the formation of the tobacco column within the garniture in a
typical cigarette manufacturing machine. Thus, the cigarette with
burn rate modification of the present invention may be implemented
on standard cigarette making machines with only minor modifications
made to the paper feeding devices and no modifications therefore
will necessarily be required within the garniture. It is also
apparent that in any of the embodiments shown herein the strips may
be alternatively placed on the exterior of the cigarette and
retained on the wrapper by adhesives or other means so that there
are still formed co-linear zones of high and low porosity.
As shown in FIG. 8, a sample design for manufacturing a cigarette
with burn rate modification described herein is depicted. The paper
feeding assembly 50 is comprised of two paper sources, the outer
wrap bobbin 37 and the inner wrap or inner strip bobbin 32. The
outer wrap bobbin 37 may be comprised of standard porosity outer
wrap cigarette paper having a standard width which may vary between
19-27 mm as may be normally the case and may be fed to the
cigarette making machine through a plurality of rollers and
tensioning guides. In the embodiment shown, the partial inner wrap
and outer wrap layer may be combined to form a combined cigarette
paper 36 wherein the outer wrap and inner wrap layer receive the
tobacco within the garniture. The outer wrap layer 30 may underlie
the partial inner wrap strips 34, 35 which are fed from the inner
wrap strip bobbin 32 or other source. The inner wrap strip bobbin
32 may be narrower than the outer wrap as it is intended to cover
only a portion of the inner surface of the outer wrap 30. The inner
wrap strip bobbin 32 may be unrolled and fed through rollers and
cut by a knife into the desired strips prior to forming the
combined cigarette paper 36 just preceding the garniture. The
strips 34, 35 which form the inner wrap portion of the cigarette of
the present invention may have significantly different burn rate
characteristics than the outer wrap 30. Thus, variations in the
porosity, content and other characteristics may be provided by
supplying dual bobbins at the machine in the present embodiment 50.
The slitter 33 may be provided to slit the inner wrap paper into
two or more strips.
As shown in FIG. 8, the inner wrap strip bobbin 32 may have a paper
with a width of 4-15 mm which is slit in two strips. The correct
combination of porosity and burn characteristics of the inner wrap
and outer wrap layer may be adjusted so as to produce an
appropriate burn rate modification which is desirable to produce a
standard linear burn rate throughout the entirety of the cigarette
and tobacco column.
As shown in FIG. 8, the paper feeding assembly 50 disclosed
incorporates a number of tensioning rollers for providing adequate
feeding of the outer wrap 30 and the partial inner wrap strips 34,
35 to produce the combined cigarette wrapping paper 36. As may be
appreciated, the smaller width bobbin 32 creates significantly more
problems in feeding the slit paper to the garniture. Adequate
tensioning of the strips 34, 35 must be provided in order to
prevent tearing of the inner wrap strips 34, 35 prior to the
garniture. Additionally, as cigarette manufacturing process is
inherently a stop and go procedure, the proper tensioning of the
outer wrap bobbin 37 and inner wrap strip bobbin 32 is necessary.
Thus, the partial inner wrap strips 34, 35 may be combined with the
outer wrap paper 30 just prior to the garniture or may be combined,
as depicted in FIG. 8, immediately after slitting in order to
provide proper tensioning and combination of the two layers.
Turning to FIG. 9, a cross section of the garniture within the
cigarette maker is shown. The garniture 40 is the area within the
cigarette maker wherein the cigarette is rolled and formed. There
is usually a belt which lies between the outer wrap 30 and the
garniture 40 but which is not shown herein for explanation
purposes. As depicted, the garniture 40 has a curvature for
formation of the tobacco column and cigarette. The curvature folds
the outer wrap 30 around the tobacco after the tobacco is deposited
by the tobacco provider 41 within the cigarette maker. Prior to
entry within the garniture, the inner wrap strips 34, 35 are mated
with the outer wrap 30 so that the combined cigarette wrapper 36 is
folded and formed with the tobacco while the cigarette wrapper
formation is already in place. Such a design allows for the
flexibility of combining various characteristics of the outer wrap
layer and the partial inner wrap layer. Another benefit of the
inline formation and processing of the cigarette with burn rate
modification of the present invention is that it is an online
method which does not affect the speed or formation of the actual
cigarette. Thus, within the garniture, there is no significant
modification required to form the cigarette rod which is cut into
proper length and then added to filters at a later station within
the cigarette maker.
As shown in FIG. 9, the inner wrap strips 34, 35 are fed into the
garniture on the interior surface of the outer wrap 30 such that
they are in proper placement when the cigarette maker forms the
cigarette and tobacco column. In the present example, as shown in
FIG. 3, the inner wrap strips 34, 35 are positioned at 90.degree.
from the seam of the outer wrap 30 and may be placed equidistant
from each other in order to provide a smooth and continuous burn
rate modification for the cigarette. The inner wrap material may be
placed on the interior side of the outer wrap 30 without adhesive
as preferred but other position maintaining material may be used.
Formation of the cigarette within the garniture 40 and compacting
of the tobacco into the tobacco rod maintains the placement of the
inner wrap strips 34, 35.
Turning to FIG. 10, an alternative embodiment for the paper feeding
assembly 82 is shown. In this embodiment, the outer wrap 12 is fed
from a standard position to bullet roller 57 which directs the
cigarette wrappers to the garniture 60 for formation of the
cigarette. In this instance, the outer wrap 12 may be standard 27
mm wide cigarette paper and have normal porosity as well as other
typical additives. As is depicted, the combined partial double wrap
36 which may be combined prior to the garniture is formed from the
combination of the outer wrap 12 and the dual line inner wrap
strips 34, 35. As can be seen, the inner wrap strip paper 32 from
the bobbin is fed to the guide rollers 58 prior to cutting or
slitting by rotary cutter 51. The rotary cutter may be comprised of
a rotary knife 52 and knife block 53. In such a formation, it is
desirable to have a 8 mm wide combined portion of the interior of
the cigarette covered with the partial double inner wrap, an inner
wrap 32 may be provided which is slit in half forming equal 4 mm
wide strips 34, 35. These strips may be formed by rotary cutter 51
and separated by separation rollers 55, 56 before the partial inner
wrap strip 34, 35 are combined with the outer wrap paper 12 at the
roller 57. The inner wrap 32 of course may be slit into even
narrower strips for overlaying onto the outer wrap.
A benefit of such a design is that a rotary cutter 51 may be
provided for slitting the paper into the desired widths.
Problematic in handling narrow strips thereby necessitating the
guide and tensioning rollers is that after the narrower strips are
formed, care must be provided to prevent tearing of the inner wrap
paper 32 and individual strips 34, 35. Thus, it may be beneficial
to provide a rotary cutter 51 at a point which is fairly close or
adjacent to the garniture 60 in order to prevent significant
handling of the narrow inner wrap strips 34, 35.
In the paper feeding assembly 82 shown in FIG. 10, a rotary cutter
51 is shown to form the strips 34, 35 from the original web of
material 32. A number of different cutting devices or slitters may
be used in all of these embodiments such as a static knife, laser,
rotary knife as depicted, water jet cutter, kiss cutting or
micro-perforation formation. Additionally, pre-formed webs of
material may be provided which are pre-cut into individual strips
which may then be separated prior to feeding into the garniture
through various handling devices. A number of differing embodiments
may be utilized in order to feed the appropriate inner wrap strips
into the garniture in combination with the outer wrap. While the
various embodiments disclosed herein teach specific structure to
accomplish the feeding of the inner wrap strips to the garniture, a
number of embodiments may be provided for formation or supplying of
the inner wrap strips to the garniture in combination with the
outer wrap. Such variations are felt to fall within the teachings
of the present application and no unnecessary limitation is to be
interpreted from the specific examples of the paper feeding
assembly setforth herein.
As disclosed in FIG. 11, an additional embodiment 84 is provided
wherein a cigarette maker 74 may have external bobbin units 70, 71.
External bobbin unit 70 may have bobbin 30 which supplies the outer
wrap paper to be fed into the garniture 77. The bobbin 30 provides
a web of material 12 which is fed into the garniture and combined
with a web of material 32 which forms the inner wrap strips.
External bobbin unit 71 may have a bobbin of material 32 which is
fed to a knife mechanism 75 for slitting. The slitter or cutting
mechanism 75 is positioned directly adjacent to the garniture 77 in
order to decrease the length of handling of the individual narrow
inner wrap strips. As shown, the maker 74 has garniture 77 and
garniture belt 78 driven by drive shaft 73 which feeds the paper
and tobacco material through the garniture during the cigarette
formation process such that the tobacco rod and cigarette is formed
with the inner wrap strips formed therein.
As may be appreciated, provision for an external bobbin unit 70, 71
for both the outer wrap and inner wrap material allows for easier
online processing of the paper and ready integration into the
cigarette maker 74 of the partial inner wrap strips. Additionally,
external placement of the outer wrap bobbin 30 and inner wrap
bobbin 32 requires minimal changing of the structure for the
cigarette maker 74 as the bobbins may be spaced away from the maker
74 and no significant changes are required at the area around the
garniture 77 apart from the guide and tensioning rollers.
Additionally, external bobbin units are currently implemented with
cigarette makers and may be provided for in order to combine the
outer and partial inner wrap strips of the present invention in
order to create the appropriate burn rate modification desired.
In use, the external unit 71 may be fitted with a spool of bandcast
material instead of a standard bobbin of cigarette wrapper. A spool
may be utilized due to the non-uniformity of the material in
bandcast. A spool having bandcast recon may be used wherein the
material is 8 mm in width and is fed into the maker 74 through
guide rollers in order to minimize movement of the bandcast
material as the spool is unwound. The material may be slit
immediately prior to joining with the outer wrap material at the
bullet roller which is the roller typically found at the first or
beginning part of the garniture. A plurality of guide rollers and
tensioning rollers may be provided to properly feed the material to
the garniture and combine it with the outer wrap material.
The cigarette with burn rate modification of the present invention
may be designed with variations in outer wrap and inner wrap paper
characteristics. As previously explained, standard outer wrap
designs are such that the typical outer wrap has a linear laid out
width of 27 mm and generally a porosity of between 15 and 80
CORESTA units. As is generally understood, significantly decreasing
the outer wrap porosity changes the deliveries and linear burn rate
of the cigarette. Modification of the standard burn rate for a
normal or typical cigarette may be obtained through addition of a
partial inner wrap to the cigarette. The partial inner wrap may be
a single inner wrap portion or may be a plurality of inner wrap
strips as shown in the various figures. The partial inner wrap may
have paper characteristics with a significantly reduced porosity
such that the inner wrap paper exhibits a porosity of less than 8
CORESTA units. If a single inner wrap strip is utilized, such as
with band cast or other paper as previously described and depicted
in FIG. 6, the inner wrap layer may have a width of between 2-15
mm. The porosity of the inner wrap layer may be adjusted from any
where to 0 to 8 CORESTA units.
EXAMPLES
Several product examples were made using the construction of a
partial strip wrap or partial inner wrap cigarette using the
inventive techniques and construction described herein. In the
examples, a control cigarette was used having no partial inner wrap
strips which exhibited a linear burn rate of between 4.3-4.7
mm/min. Different materials where utilized, as detailed in the
chart below, for the partial inner wrap strips ranging from
standard treated paper to band cast tobacco material.
Examples of cigarettes with two band cast inner wrap strips having
a porosity of band cast material less than 5 CORESTA units:
TABLE-US-00001 Outer Wrapper Outer Wrap Inner Strip Linear Burn
Self Porosity Citrate Inner Strips Width Rate (LBR) Extinguishment
Cig. CORESTA % Number mm mm/min % 1 50 0.5 0 0 4.3 0 2 50 0.5 2 4
3.1 100 3 50 0.5 2 5 2.6 100 4 50 0.5 2 6 2.7 100 5 40 0.7 0 0 4.7
0 6 40 0.7 2 3 3.8 48 7 30 0.6 0 0 4.3 0 8 30 0.6 2 4 3.1 100
Examples of cigarettes with two cigarette paper strips treated or
covered with sodium alginate having a porosity of inner strip paper
less than 5 CORESTA units:
TABLE-US-00002 Outer Wrapper Outer Wrap Inner Strip Linear Burn
Self Porosity Citrate Inner Strips Width Rate (LBR) Extinguishment
Cig. CORESTA % Number mm mm/min % 9 70 0.6 0 0 4.4 0 10 70 0.6 2 2
3.8 25
Examples of cigarettes detailing smoke deliveries of two samples
with band cast strips:
TABLE-US-00003 Self Outer Wrapper Outer Wrap Inner Strip Linear
Burn Extinguishment Porosity Citrate Inner Strip Width Rate (LBR)
On 10 layers tar Nicotine CO Puff Cig CORESTA % Number mm mm/min %
mg/cig mg/cig mg/cig Number 11 70 0.6 2 4 3.9 90 15.5 1.4 12.2 10.3
12 50 0.5 2 4 3.8 90 14.5 0.9 14.6 7.3
In the examples presented, it is apparent that the addition of the
partial inner wrap to the cigarette had a definite impact on linear
burn rate and self extinguishment as compared to the control
cigarette. The linear burn rate for the cigarettes using the
present invention was directly affected and evidenced a reduction
in linear burn rate by up to 40 percent. Where inner wrap strips
were utilized having a width of at least 4 mm, all test samples
self extinguished. Narrower width strips had differing results
which could be modified by using alternative additives or
increasing the number of strips. References to the
self-extinguishment of the cigarette is related to the NIST test
for flammability using 10 layers of filter paper.
Smoking Article Including Strips of Bandcast Reconstituted
Tobacco
The separate partial inner wrap strips 14 may be strips of bandcast
reconstituted tobacco made in accordance with the specific formula
and process for making same as discussed hereinafter. The outer
wrap cigarette paper 12 may be a normal porosity paper which
typically exhibits a porosity of 15-80 CORESTA units. As shown, two
strips 14 of a reconstituted tobacco sheet are provided on opposite
sides of the tobacco column 13 to provide a partial inner wrap
layer. The partial inner wrap layer including the reconstituted
tobacco strips 14 may extend substantially the length of and be
co-axial with the tobacco column 13. In one embodiment, the strips
are placed equidistant from each other such that the resulting
cigarette burns evenly.
Preparation of a Bandcast Reconstituted Tobacco Sheet
In the preparation of a bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet for
use in a cigarette, wood pulp, and a binder, such as sodium
alginate, and ground tobacco particles or concentrated extract are
slowly added to a tank containing water therein, the materials
added while mixing under high shear insuring that each component is
thoroughly dissolved or dispersed in the slurry. Particularly, it
is desirable to add in order, wood pulp, tobacco and then alginate.
Glycerin may also be added for sheet pliability and is generally
added after the alginate and before any additional flavorant.
Moreover, in a preferred slurry, a desired flavoring may also be
added, one particularly desired flavoring being menthol. Inert
fillers, such as calcium carbonate and the like, may also be added
to the slurry. It has been found that the ratio of tobacco to
alginate is preferably about 4.0 to 1.0 in order to obtain sheets
with adequate tensile strength to withstand cigarette making
machine forces. The resulting slurry is spread thinly on a casting
surface, such as a stainless steel band, that is heated to
approximately 200.degree. F. The slurry spread remains on the
heated belt until the resulting sheet is dry enough to be removed
intact from the belt. The resulting bandcast sheet may be used
immediately or conditioned at 100.degree. F. in low humidity for 24
hours or more to further "seal in" any flavoring additives, such as
menthol. The sheet may then be shredded and added to a tobacco
blend or cut into elongated strips of a desired width and used as
longitudinally extending strips along the outer periphery of a
tobacco rod and the inner surface of an outer paper wrap. Smoking
articles using these inner strips of reconstituted tobacco
including menthol therein maintain their menthol flavor in open
packs for significant periods of time up to 1 month. In sealed
packs, they maintain their menthol flavor for at least 4
months.
In an embodiment, the tobacco blend is from 30 to 80% by weight;
the wood pulp is from about 5 to 40% by weight; the binder is from
8 to 40% by weight and if a flavoring is added, such as menthol,
the flavoring will be up to 30% by weight. Preferably, the tobacco
will be approximately 26% by weight, the wood pulp will be
approximately 13.5% by weight, the binder will be approximately 27%
by weight, and menthol will be approximately 20% by weight. The
total mix (i.e., the solid mixture) will be from about 2% to about
10% by weight in the slurry formulation. The binder can be alginate
(e.g., sodium alginate), guar, xanthum, acacia, pectin, other gums,
modified cellulose compounds, and hydrocolloid compounds. A
humectant can be added, which can be glycerin or propylene glycol.
The tobacco blend may be comprised of at least about 30% by weight
of burley and up to about 30% by weight of a second tobacco. The
second tobacco type may be flue-cured, oriental, Maryland, exotic
types, and combinations thereof. The exotic tobaccos include, but
are not limited to, Izmar, Samsun, Yaka, Latakia, Perique,
Cavendish, Rustica, Fire-cure, and Dark or Sun-cure.
A more comprehensive understanding of the invention can be obtained
by considering the following examples. However, it should be
understood that the examples are not intended to be unduly
limitative of the invention.
The following examples demonstrate the procedure that was followed
in preparing a bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet for use in a
smoking article.
Example 1
In the process of making the bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet,
130 gallons of water is put into a first vessel having a high shear
agitator therein. While the water is being agitated, 35 pounds of
wood pulp is added and thoroughly dispersed, 70 pounds of tobacco
is added and thoroughly dispersed, 70 pounds of sodium alginate is
added and thoroughly dispersed, 35 pounds of glycerin is added and
thoroughly dispersed. In a separate tank, 52.5 pounds of menthol is
added to 15 gallons of water at 40.degree. C.; the mixture is
agitated until the menthol is melted. The resulting mixture is
added to the alginate slurry and thoroughly dispersed. More water
is added to keep the viscosity between 10,000 to 20,000 centipoise,
preferably 15,000 centipoise to ensure proper casting.
The slurry is then cast onto a stainless steel band which is
maintained at approximately 200.degree. F. at a thickness of about
40-60 mils. The sheet remains on the stainless steel belt until
dry, which is approximately 6-8 minutes. The resulting mentholated
bandcast sheet is maintained in sheet form until cut into strips
for use in a cigarette article.
Cigarette articles having elongate strips of the bandcast
reconstituted sheet disposed between the paper wrapper and the
outer surface of the tobacco rod have been found to retain their
menthol flavor for 1 month in open packs. In sealed packs, the
cigarette articles retain their menthol flavor for at least 4
months and maybe up to a year.
It is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to
the specific examples shown as the parameters set forth in the
examples may be varied by appropriate changes of the amounts of the
constituents within the reconstituted bandcast tobacco sheet mix
used in the examples.
Preparation of Burley Reconstituted Tobacco Sheet and Split Inner
Wrap Strips
Generally, the preparation of burley bandcast reconstituted tobacco
sheet and split inner wrap strips follows the preparation of
bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet and split inner wrap strips as
previously described, with minor modifications. Note that, present
in the tobacco blend are burley and a second tobacco type. A first
tobacco, preferably burley, is at least about 30% by weight of the
tobacco blend and a second tobacco, such as flue-cured, oriental,
Maryland, rare and exotic tobaccos, and combinations thereof, is up
to about 30% by weight of the tobacco blend. Exotic tobaccos
include, but are not limited to, Izmar, Samsun, Yaka, Latakia,
Perique, Cavendish, Rustica, Fire-cure, and Dark or Sun-cure.
Example 2
In making a paper reconstituted tobacco sheet, tobacco fines, dust,
veins, stems, scraps, cut lamina, shredded stems, or combinations
thereof, are mixed with an aqueous solvent. This starting material
would be comprised of between about 30% and 100% by weight of
burley tobacco. One part tobacco is added to 11-20 parts of the
aqueous solvent, and extracted at 160.degree. F. (70.degree. C.)
for 30 minutes. The mixture is separated via centrifugation,
filtration, or pressing into a water soluble extract and a
solid/fibrous non-water soluble component.
The extract is concentrated by vacuum evaporation or freeze dried
and a humectant, such as glycerin, is added and mixed thoroughly.
The extract may optionally be treated with adsorbents to
selectively remove undesirable components, such as TSNAs,
polyphenols, and proteins, and subsequently centrifuged. The
adsorbents are discarded and the remaining extract is concentrated,
and mixed with a humectant. An alginate binder may then be added to
the extract.
The solid/fibrous component is refined and mixed with over 10% wood
fibers that have been refined to a pulp in an earlier process. The
fiber/pulp mixture is then used to make sheets via the paper
process. The extract prepared as previously described is reapplied
to the sheet. The sheet is slit and wound onto a bobbin, thereby
forming burley paper reconstituted tobacco split inner wrap
strips.
Another sheet making option of the invention can be obtained by
considering the following example. However, it should be understood
that the examples are not intended to be unduly limitative of the
invention. The following example demonstrates the procedure that
was followed in preparing a burley bandcast reconstituted tobacco
sheet for use in a smoking article
Example 3
Bandcast reconstituted tobacco was produced by mixing one part
tobacco and other solids to 10-11 parts of water as shown in the
recipe table:
TABLE-US-00004 Materials Tobacco fines, dust, or Bandcast Recipes
(%) concentrated Cooked.sup.c extract Burley (Burley/Flue) Exotic I
Exotic II Exotic III Burley 65 43 32.5 20 24.5 Flue cure 0 29 13.5
25 30 Oriental Izmir 0 0 5 3 0 Samsun 0 0 5 3 0 Maryland 0 0 0 14 0
Fire-cure 0 0 0 0 10 Cavendish 0 0 9 0 5 Total 65 72 65 65 65
Tobacco Binder: 7.5 5 7 7 9 CMC.sup.a 7.5 5 7 7 6 Na
-alginate.sup.b Wood pulp 8 6 9 9 8 Glycerin 11 11 12 12 12 Water
10-11 times 10-11 times 10-11 times 10-11 times 10-11 times solids
solids solids solids solids weight weight weight weight weight
Caustic 1.75% (tobacco (KOH, NaOH) weight) .sup.aCarboxymethyl
cellulose from TIC Gums (15 K) .sup.bKelvis from ISP Alginates Co.
.sup.cCooking releases pectins, thereby making a stronger tobacco
sheet and reducing the amount of binder needed
The solids and water were sequentially mixed as follows: water,
tobacco, and wood pulp were thoroughly mixed for 10 minutes. The
binder (CMC and Na-alginate) and the remaining portion of water
were mixed separately for 10 minutes, and then added to the
water/tobacco/pulp mixture. Glycerin was subsequently added and
mixed thoroughly for another 10 minutes. The mixture was then cast
into a continuous sheet on a moving steel belt, passed through a
drying tunnel, reconditioned to 10-12% moisture, and finally wound
on a bobbin. The sheet on the bobbin was subsequently slit into an
8 mm wide spool and transversely wound on another bobbin. A
commercial strip blend containing 35% burley was used to make
control cigarette samples with no burley reconstituted inner wrap
strips. A similar strip blend, containing 15% burley, was used to
make test cigarettes via burley reconstituted inner wrap strips.
For the test samples, each 8 mm reconstituted tobacco spool was
further spliced into two 4 mm halves before entering the cigarette
maker. Each final cigarette contained two 2.times.4 mm inserts
lying adjacent to each other on the periphery of the tobacco
section of the rod and within the cigarette paper. Other bandcast
variants, Exotic I, Exotic II, and Exotic III were similarly
prepared as outlined above, except that each of their recipes
(refer to recipe table above) contained exotic tobaccos in addition
to burley.
Example 4
Another burley bandcast reconstituted tobacco sheet for split inner
wraps was similarly made as described in Example 2, except that the
water-tobacco-wood pulp slurry was cooked with 1.75% (dry weight
basis) tobacco equivalent of caustic (KOH) for 30 to 45 minutes at
70.degree. C. to 90.degree. C. Tobacco cooking with caustic results
in the release of pectin, a natural binder. Pectin increases sheet
tensile strength, and reduces the amount of binder used in the
formulation.
Seven samples were made as follows:
1. A commercial LTS KS strip blend control with no insert,
2. LTS KS with two 2.times.4 mm burley paper insert,
3. LTS KS with two 2.times.4 mm burley bandcast insert,
4. LTS KS with two 2.times.4 mm cooked burley bandcast insert,
5. LTS KS with two 2.times.4 mm Exotic I blend bandcast insert,
6. LTS KS with two 2.times.4 mm Exotic II blend bandcast insert,
and
7. LTS KS with two 2.times.4 mm Exotic III blend bandcast
insert.
LTS refers to "lights" and KS refers to "king size." The cigarettes
were aged in packs in cartons for three weeks at 70.degree. F. and
65% relative humidity, and submitted for sensory and routine
testing.
The following table shows a smoke panel rating of 34 to 37
panelists for the commercial LTS KS strip blend control with no
insert (1) versus the LTS with burley paper (2), burley bandcast
(3), cooked burley bandcast (4), Exotic I blend (5), Exotic II
blend (6), and Exotic III blend (7) reconstituted tobacco inserts,
as described in the recipe table and referenced above:
TABLE-US-00005 Smoke attributes 1 2 1 3 1 4 More impact 20 15 19 16
14 22** More irritation 21 14 18 17 17 19 More mouthful of 17 18 17
18 11 24*** smoke More tobacco taste 14 21** 14 21** 15 21** Better
tobacco taste 14 21** 14 21** 17 19 Off taste 1 0 0 1 1 1 Coal fall
out 0 0 0 0 0 0 Number of panelists = Number of panelists = Number
of panelists = 35 35 36 Sign @ Sign @ Sign @ 95% CL = 23*** 95% CL
= 23*** 95% CL = 20*** Sign @ Sign @ Sign @ 80% CL = 21** 80% CL =
21** 80% CL = 17**
TABLE-US-00006 Smoke attributes 1 5 1 6 1 7 More impact 14 23** 13
23** 12 22** More irritation 21 16 15 21** 16 18 More mouthful of
14 23** 14 22** 11 23*** smoke More tobacco taste 15 22** 10 26***
13 21** Better tobacco taste 16 21 14 22** 15 19 Off taste 3 3 4 1
2 2 Coal fall out 1 1 0 0 0 0 Number of panelists = Number of
panelists = Number of panelists = 37 36 34 Sign @ Sign @ Sign @ 95%
CL = 24*** 95% CL = 24*** 95% CL = 23*** Sign @ Sign @ Sign @ 80%
CL = 22** 80% CL = 21** 80% CL = 21**
As can be seen from the above tables, the cigarettes with inserts
were found to have a "more and better tobacco taste" than the
control with no insert, despite the control having the highest
tar/puff ratio, as shown in the following table:
TABLE-US-00007 LTS with Routine Commercial Exotic Exotic Exotic
analyticals LTSa KSb Burley Burley Cooked tobacco tobacco tobacco
(FTC method) Control with paper band burley band I band II band III
band and TSNAs no insert inserts cast inserts cast inserts cast
inserts cast inserts cast inserts Puff number 7.2 8.1 8.2 8.6 8.3
8.2 8.3 Tar (mg/cig) 10.9 10.4 10.9 11.3 10.7 10.9 10.5 Nicotine
0.92 0.86 0.89 0.9 0.9 0.89 0.88 (mg/cig) Tobacco 1019.0 970.0
977.0 989.0 979.0 980.0 978.0 weight (mg) CO (mg/cig) 9.2 10.3 10.4
10.5 9.9 9.8 9.5 Tar/puff 1.5 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 1.3 Nitrosamines
NAB 8.0 4.9 4.4 BDL BDL BDL BDL NAT 141.1 97.9 22.1 15.4 16.2 24.6
36.7 NNK 20.7 13.2 14.3 7.1 9.3 8.7 16.0 NNN 184.2 130.8 22.9 13.3
13.6 24.7 37.5 Total 354.0 246.8 63.6 38.8 41.3 60.8 93.8 TSNAs
Smoking Article Including Burley Bandcast Reconstituted Tobacco
Split Inner Wrap Strips
The separate partial inner wrap strips 14 may be strips of
bandcast, paper, or extruded reconstituted tobacco made in
accordance with the specific formula and process for making same
previously discussed. The outer wrap cigarette paper 12 may be a
normal porosity paper which typically exhibits a porosity of 15-80
CORESTA units. As shown, two strips 14a, 14b of a reconstituted
tobacco sheet are provided on opposite sides of the tobacco column
13 to provide a partial inner wrap layer. The partial inner wrap
layer including the burley reconstituted tobacco strips 14a, 14b
may extend substantially the length of and be co-axial with the
tobacco column 13. In one embodiment, the strips 14a, 14b are
placed equidistant from each other such that the resulting
cigarette burns evenly.
The foregoing detailed description is given primarily for clearness
of understanding and no unnecessary limitations are to be
understood therefrom, for modifications will become obvious to
those skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure, and may be
made without departing from the spirit of the invention and scope
of the appended claims.
* * * * *